THE BANK of Jamaica (BoJ) is advising the public that as of Monday, August 29, 2005, it will be putting into general circulation, banknotes with enhanced security features. According to the BoJ , the new security features will make the banknotes more difficult to counterfeit and the public will also find it easier to distinguish counterfeit from genuine notes.
As part of the new features, each of the four denominations ($50, $100, $500, $1,000) now has a unique watermark, which has replaced the doctor bird which was the watermark used on all notes.
UNIQUE IMAGES
The unique images for each denomination are the butterfly for the thousand dollar bill, the crocodile for the five hundred dollar note, a floral image on the one hundred dollar and a parrot on the fifty dollar note.
In addition, there are added security features for the thousand dollar and the five hundred dollar notes. Both notes now have a broader, brighter security thread with the text BoJ and the denomination boldly printed on it. This thread is more easily visible and makes the notes more counterfeit resistant.
As well, the back of the $1,000 note now has an anti-photocopy feature, which takes the form of a series of geometrically-shaped line structures. When this note is scanned or photocopied, this feature will be exaggerated.
The BoJ says that the previous design of banknotes with the hummingbird watermark and flower highlight, remain legal tender and will continue to circulate alongside the upgraded notes until the stock of older notes is exhausted.
